Kartik Purnima is the full moon day in the month Kartik in traditional Hindu calendar. It is of great importance in Hinduism. Kartik Purnima 2018 date is Friday, November 23. The popular belief is
that a Hindu performing puja on the day will get relief from all problems in
life. All problems in Janam Kundali or horoscope can be overcome by observing
puja and rituals on the day. Taking a holy dip or bath in Ganga and other holy rivers, known as Kartik Snaan, is an important religious event for Hindus on Kartik Poornima day.

Kartik Purnima 2018 Date and Time

Time is from 12:35 PM on November 22 to 11:46 AM on November 23, 2018.
Purnima Vrat is on November 22.
Dev Diwali is on November 22.

The four month long Chatur Maas also comes to an end on this day in many calendars.

Numerous pilgrimage are held on the day in Maharashtra.

Taking holy dip at Hari Ki Pauri in Haridwar and on Ganga
Ghat in Benares is considered highly meritorious.

Mantra Chanted on Kartik Purnima

ॐ नम: शिवाय

नारायण्यैदशहरायैगंगायेनम:

Food restrictions

Salt should be completely avoided on the day.

No non-vegetarian food should be eaten on the day.

A single meal should be taken on the day after doing annadanam

Kartik Purnima Puja

The main puja on the day is dedicated to Goddess Ganga and Lord Shiva.

Those able to visit Ganga River perform the puja on the riverbanks.
If Ganga River water is available at home then puja can be done to it. Others
who are not lucky to be near Ganga can imagine Ganga River in the mind and do
the puja.

Goddess Ganga is offered dhoop, lamp, flowers, chandan, and
naivedya is offered. The naivedya can be a sweet or puffed rice.

Prayers on the day should also be offered to King Bhageeratha who brought Ganga down on earth and Himalaya – from which Ganga flows on earth.

Puja and prayers should be offered to Lord Shiva

Special Pujas to Goddess Lakshmi

Goddess Lakshmi offered special pujas on the day by chanting
the Sri Suktam and Lakshmi stotra. There is a belief that a person offering puja on the day will be blessed with prosperity

Shani Puja

Offer prayers to Shani on the day is considered a good form
of Shani Dosha Parihara. Do donation of black things to poor people in the evening
is meritorious.

After Sunset

After sunset, puja should be performed to Tulsi by lighting
a lamp filled with cow ghee. One should parikrama or circumambulation of Tulis
plant four times.

Puja should be offered to Chandra or moon god at night.

Benefits of Kartik Purnima

Pujas and holy dip in a sacred river on the day will help a person escape from cycle of birth and death. Helps in attaining moksha or liberation.

Prayers helps in overcoming difficulties in life.

Holy bath on the day helps in washing away the sins of this birth and previous births.

All problems in horoscope and be solved by performing puja on the day.

Relief to problems related to bad positioning of Navgrahas in the horoscope.

Garh Mukteshwar Kartik Purnima Mela

Kartik Purnima Mela on the banks of Ganga River at Garh Mukteshwar attracts more than a million devotees. It is believed that bathing at the Garh Mukteshwar Bridge Ghat in Uttar Pradesh has been taking place for more than 5000 years. It is said that a mere darshan of River Ganga at Garh Mukteshwar will get one Moksha (salvation).